Art Couture

bySmallTownGirl

Fashionably Funky

Deeply Superficial

In 2015 an exhibition called Deeply Superficial was held at the Serpentine Gallery in Lismore. The title is a quote from Andy Warhol which he used to describe himself – and his paintings. It seemed appropriate for an exhibition featuring flat knitted surfaces which appear to have depth – where colours appear to float in layers.

The window featured a series of Rock’n’roll tributes (Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix, Lou Reed, Laurie Anderson, Patti Smith, Blondie and Bob Marley); the first gallery a series of Legendary Ladies (Debbie Harry, Nico, Laurie Anderson, Judy Garland, Billie Holiday, Bette Davis and Brigitte Bardot); some Early Efforts and Fab Faves (I don’t think love is a big enough word, Fab, Moonwalk, Bushells Tea Shirt, Bay City Rollers Bubble Gum) and a series of tributes to the optical illusions of artist Victor Vasarely.

Before entering the second gallery viewers were invited to don a pair of chroma depth glasses which allowed them to fully experience the two sets of 3D sweaters within: 11 Lou Reed sweaters in which the red lettering appeared to float out in front of the garments, and a series of Technicolour Dreams – tributes to various artists (Dali, Escher, Lichtenstein, Magritte, Van Gogh, Vasarely and Warhol) in vibrant colours which appeared to float out at different distances in distinct layers. The exhibition also featured a large composite portrait of Lou Reed created by assembling 1,380 positive and negative photographed images as if they were stitches – ‘knitting with photographs’.